Palace: PH ready to head 2026 Asean
KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippines is ready to assume the chairmanship of the now 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and host the biannual summit in Manila next year.
In a press briefing here, Palace press officer Claire Castro said President Marcos made the remarks at the 47th Asean Plenary on Sunday.
“The President noted that the Philippines’ hosting of the Asean Summit next year will focus on practical, inclusive, and measurable initiatives,” she told reporters.
Quoting Mr. Marcos’ statement, Castro cited Asean’s crucial role in fostering regional stability, cooperation, and progress.
The President also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to achieving the Asean Vision 2045, which aims to build a resilient, inclusive and dynamic regional community.
Maritime disputes
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will turn over Asean’s chairmanship to Mr. Marcos during the summit closing on Oct. 28.
The last time the Philippines chaired Asean was in 2017.
As the incoming chair, the Philippines is optimistic that Asean members and China will finally adopt a legally binding “code of conduct” on the South China Sea after more than two decades of discussions.
Mr. Marcos earlier said the Philippines would reaffirm its commitment to “Asean centrality”—the principle which positions Asean to be the main platform for dialogue and ensures that regional issues are addressed within, rather than being dominated by outside major powers.
Such was necessary as the region “[navigates] pressing regional and global challenges, including developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, threats to regional peace and maritime security, as well as the far-reaching impacts of climate change, economic volatility, and transnational crime,” the President said.
Mr. Marcos also held bilateral meetings at the sidelines with the leaders of Cambodia, Thailand, Canada, European Union, Japan and the United Nations.
In his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Joseph Carney, the President thanked Canada for its support for the Philippines and cited shared values on the rules-based international order.
Meeting with Takaichi
Mr. Marcos also held his first bilateral meeting with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, with both leaders noting the celebration of the 70th anniversary next year of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.
The President highlighted the deepening defense cooperation between the two countries with the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement in September.
The two leaders also underscored the importance of the Philippines–United States-Japan Trilateral Cooperation as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability, and development.
On the economic front, the President cited the signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement and the Asean-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade, reaffirming the Philippines’ support for open markets, infrastructure development and sustained regional economic growth.
